What happens when a stay-at-home mom with a passion for baking refuses to let a pandemic crush her dream? Elise Thomas went from filling cookie boxes in her home kitchen to launching one of the fastest-growing dessert franchises in the U.S. Elise shares how she turned a moment of crisis into a movement of kindness and entrepreneurship. They talk about what it means to lead with service, how to build a purpose-driven brand, and what she’s learned about risk, resilience, and growth along the way. This one’s for anyone dreaming bigger than their current circumstances and looking for inspiration to take the next step.

Chapters:

00:00 Meet Elise Thomas, founder of Cookie Co

01:15 Opening a bakery during a global pandemic

03:00 Filling orders late at night while homeschooling kids

04:30 Baking 10 boxes at a time, and selling out

05:45 Giving back to frontline workers

07:00 Community support and viral growth

08:15 Why she turned to franchising

10:00 Making business ownership accessible to more women

11:30 What she’s learned about fear, failure, and family

13:00 Giving people a place to do good

15:00 Building systems for scale and impact

17:30 The heart behind every Cookie Co location

19:00 What success means now

21:00 Advice for moms, makers, and aspiring entrepreneurs

The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms.

Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think.

Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com.

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